This is the last weekend to see this attraction at Sam Houston Race Park. Designed after Chinese lanterns, landmarks such as the Egyptian pyramids, the temples of Asia, the Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower and the Roman Colosseum will glow under the big Texas sky. Dinosaur Land is one of more than 100 lantern sets. The attraction also includes carnival games and rides, a food-truck park and international music and dance performances.

The Houston Zoo's annual holiday festival concludes Saturday. It features more than 2 million sparkling lights, life-size animal sculptures, a walk-through snow globe and a charming train village. While enjoying the lights and music, visitors can warm themselves with spiked hot chocolate, wine and beer.

When: 6-10 p.m. daily through Saturday

Where: 6200 Hermann Park

Tickets: $14.95-$19.95; houstonzoo.org, 713-533-6500

Ice Land and Festival of Lights

The ice will begin to melt on Monday so that means you just have days to see Moody Gardens' Ice Land, an ice-sculpture park starring Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants. Visitors don parkas to enter the exhibit, which is kept at a chilly 9 degrees and features structures carved from 2 million pounds of ice. Outside, visitors will want to take in the Festival of Lights, with its mile-long trail and sound-enhanced, animated displays. Festival of Lights festivities include an outdoor ice skating rink, musical entertainment, holiday films and an ice slide.